We left home, like I said, at 4 am on Sunday, March 2. The remaining 5 kids were in charge of themselves until it was time for Coco and Bill and Josh and Emily to take them to church at 1:00, although I bet some of them booked it over to Coco's much earlier. She just revamped her playroom and turned it into an underwater adventure, so everyone loves to play there. (Unless grown-ups are trying to talk, in which case the kids congregate under our feet, claiming that they're starving and that they need sustenance in specific bowls and cups.)
The next day, David and Marilyn, my cousins from Tennessee, arrived with their 9 kids. They are moving to Kaysville (!!!!), and the timing was perfect for them to stay at our house while we were gone, as their house wasn't quite ready. We so appreciate them staying here and keeping an eye on things. When we got back, Marilyn told me some funny things, like that Freestone slept in his clothes and Xanthe wore the same pants every single day. Well, whatever works! I know everyone had fun because my kids were so lonely for the cousins when we got back. One day, Ptolemy sighed and said, "I wish William and KK were still here." As if we don't have any kids around! Ha! But the 9+3 had some adventures exploring the trails and building forts out of stuff they found at the bottom of the gully. There were only 3 Dopps because Ptolemy and Tziporah had gone to Nikki and Clint's for the school week. I had talked to Tizzy about "not crying at Nikki's house," so I hope she was OK! Nikki said the kids were good, and Ptolemy said it was a blast. Thank you, Nikki!!!
When David and Marilyn left the following weekend, Ari was in charge of the kids and Bill was in charge of driving them around. Coco slept at our house and made sure Tizzy stayed alive and intact, despite her proclivity for danger! We used Whatsapp to stay in touch, which was great. We could send 10 pictures at a time, quickly, and it's free.
Sunday, the Kings took the kids to church again, then Bruce and Marlene picked them up for a family party. Monday Sarah watched the babies, and Tuesday, Coco bravely held down the fort. The DeBrys came back, too, so there was endless fun to be had. We also had a babysitter, Rachel Yadon, from 4 to 7 those two days, to facilitate after-school craziness and get the kids ready for bed. Rachel is awesome. Monday night, I can only imagine the chaos, with the DeBrys, the babysitter, Bruce and Marlene bringing soup, Sarah dropping off the babies and her own pot of soup and Marilyn in the kitchen making...soup! Rest assured, everyone who made soups, that it was all consumed. When I got home, I finished off the last few teaspoons of it, so I know it was much appreciated!
When we arrived home at 7 am Wednesday morning, we walked into a peacefully sleeping household. That didn't last long, with Golda having to be at school at 7:30, Ruby to seminary at 8, and the other kids to school at 8:30. Back at it! I am so grateful that our prayers were answered that everyone would be safe at home, and grateful for everyone who made that happen.
The next day, David and Marilyn, my cousins from Tennessee, arrived with their 9 kids. They are moving to Kaysville (!!!!), and the timing was perfect for them to stay at our house while we were gone, as their house wasn't quite ready. We so appreciate them staying here and keeping an eye on things. When we got back, Marilyn told me some funny things, like that Freestone slept in his clothes and Xanthe wore the same pants every single day. Well, whatever works! I know everyone had fun because my kids were so lonely for the cousins when we got back. One day, Ptolemy sighed and said, "I wish William and KK were still here." As if we don't have any kids around! Ha! But the 9+3 had some adventures exploring the trails and building forts out of stuff they found at the bottom of the gully. There were only 3 Dopps because Ptolemy and Tziporah had gone to Nikki and Clint's for the school week. I had talked to Tizzy about "not crying at Nikki's house," so I hope she was OK! Nikki said the kids were good, and Ptolemy said it was a blast. Thank you, Nikki!!!
When David and Marilyn left the following weekend, Ari was in charge of the kids and Bill was in charge of driving them around. Coco slept at our house and made sure Tizzy stayed alive and intact, despite her proclivity for danger! We used Whatsapp to stay in touch, which was great. We could send 10 pictures at a time, quickly, and it's free.
Sunday, the Kings took the kids to church again, then Bruce and Marlene picked them up for a family party. Monday Sarah watched the babies, and Tuesday, Coco bravely held down the fort. The DeBrys came back, too, so there was endless fun to be had. We also had a babysitter, Rachel Yadon, from 4 to 7 those two days, to facilitate after-school craziness and get the kids ready for bed. Rachel is awesome. Monday night, I can only imagine the chaos, with the DeBrys, the babysitter, Bruce and Marlene bringing soup, Sarah dropping off the babies and her own pot of soup and Marilyn in the kitchen making...soup! Rest assured, everyone who made soups, that it was all consumed. When I got home, I finished off the last few teaspoons of it, so I know it was much appreciated!
When we arrived home at 7 am Wednesday morning, we walked into a peacefully sleeping household. That didn't last long, with Golda having to be at school at 7:30, Ruby to seminary at 8, and the other kids to school at 8:30. Back at it! I am so grateful that our prayers were answered that everyone would be safe at home, and grateful for everyone who made that happen.
1 comment:
I love reading and seeing the pictures of your travels! Thanks for the tip on Norweignpan airlines, maybe some of us will just have to go now that the kids are getting older, and it is more affordable. How does your mom find such awesome places in Paris? Where does she look? And what do you recommend for lodging? You are very lucky to have such good friends and family around to help with the kids at home, that's probably the main reason we haven't taken any trips yet, but the older ones are finally old enough to appreciate it so hopefully in the next couple years we'll be able to split up and take them! Thanks for sharing!
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